Chinese coast guard ships in the South China Sea used water cannons against Philippine vessels.

The Manila Times reported that the incident occurred near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The incident took place on Wednesday morning when four vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources approached the disputed shoal. At the time, several Chinese coast guard and navy ships were patrolling the area.

A Chinese ship about 30 kilometers from Scarborough Shoal first used water cannons against the navigation antenna of one of the Philippine vessels, and when it started to maneuver but continued to move toward the shoal, it came closer and covered it with water cannons a second time.

Other Chinese ships were blocking the movement of the other Philippine vessels, resorting to dangerous maneuvers 270 meters away.

The Chinese side, for its part, claimed to have prevented an “illegal” incursion into China’s territorial waters near Huangyan Island (the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal).

China considers Scarborough Shoal, which is rich in fish and other resources, to be its territory, although it is located 120 miles from the Philippines, within its 200-mile exclusive maritime economic zone, and about 500 miles from China.

This shoal has become the main point of dispute over sovereignty and fishing rights between the Philippines and China.

Beijing has passed domestic laws on the South China Sea and claimed sovereignty over most of it, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Such incidents are becoming more frequent. In the South China Sea, Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships often collide with each other.

The Philippine Coast Guard continues to maintain its presence in the disputed waters of the South China Sea despite China’s demands and provocations.

In 2016, the Hague Arbitration Court rejected China’s claims to these territories. Beijing did not recognize this decision, continuing to pursue aggressive policies and activities of its coast guard in these waters.